43After the two days he departed to Galilee. 44For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they too had gone to the feast. 46So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Caper'na-um there was an official whose son was ill. 47When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." 49The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. 51As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was living. 52So he asked them the hour when he began to mend, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live"; and he himself believed, and all his household. 54This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.
This is one of two examples in the bible where Jesus heals from afar. The other is Matthew 8:5-13 / Luke 7:1-10. A centurion’s servant is ill and a Roman centurion (a Gentile) asks Jesus for help. Jesus offers to go, but the centurion expresses faith that Jesus can heal from afar; “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my servant’s roof, but you only say the word and i know my servant will be healed”. Jesus heals the servant instantly. One notable spiritual moment in my life was when my 7-month-old son was rushed to the hospital with septicemia. His prognosis was very glum. I remember praying and pleading with God and seeking the prayers of everyone we knew. It was a turning point in my faith journey. Loving Father, grant me the faith to trust in you even from a distance. You have shown me time and time again it is faith that heals not physical proximity to you, or sacred locations. May I reach out to you daily and may you use me as an instrument of your will. Amen.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful and deeply personal reflection. You’ve woven Scripture with your own life experience in a way that highlights the power of faith, even in times of desperation. Your connection between the centurion’s words and your own prayer for your son is especially powerful—it illustrates how faith is not dependent on seeing or feeling, but on trusting in God’s authority and goodness.
DeleteI also love how you emphasize that it is faith that heals, not physical proximity. This is a profound truth, one that challenges the common human desire for tangible proof. Your closing prayer is heartfelt and aligns beautifully with the message of the passage.
If anything, you might consider adding a brief mention of how your son's recovery (or whatever the outcome was) influenced your faith beyond that moment—whether it strengthened your trust in God’s will or shaped your understanding of prayer. But overall, this is a deeply moving and faith-filled reflection.
Would you say that experience changed the way you view intercessory prayer?